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REGION: Asia-Pacific
TOPIC: Politics
Online NewsHour
IN-DEPTH COVERAGE
Afghanistan and the War on Terror
RESOURCE Updated: May 4, 2011     
  A Historical Timeline of Afghanistan
   intro 1921-1956  1957-1978 1979-1986 1987-1992 1993-2000 2001 2002-present
   2002
Afghan President Hamid Karzai

In June, the Loya Jirga, or grand council, elects U.S.-backed Hamid Karzai as interim leader. Karzai chooses the members of his government who will serve until 2004, when the government is required to organize elections.

   2003

Amid increased violence, NATO takes over security in Kabul in August. The effort is the security organization's first-ever commitment outside of Europe.

   January 2004

The Loya Jirga adopts a new constitution following input from nearly 500,000 Afghans, some of whom participate in public meetings in villages. The new constitution calls for a president and two vice presidents, but the office of prime minister is removed at the last minute. The official languages, according to the constitution, are Pashto and Dari. Also, the new constitution calls for equality for women.

   October 2004

Presidential elections are held. More than 10.5 million Afghans register to vote and choose among 18 presidential candidates, including interim leader Karzai. Karzai is elected with 55 percent of the vote.

   2005

The nation holds its first parliamentary elections in more than 30 years. The peaceful vote leads to the parliament's first meeting in December.

   2006

Amid continuing fighting between Taliban and al-Qaida fighters and the Afghan government forces, NATO expands its peacekeeping operation to the southern portion of the country. After the forces take over from American-led troops, Taliban fighters launch a bloody wave of suicide attacks and raids against the international troops.

   2007

The Afghan government and NATO confirm that Taliban commander Mullah Dadullah was killed during a U.S.-led operation in southern Afghanistan.

   2008

The international community pledges more than $15 billion in aid to Afghanistan at a donors' conference in Paris, while Afghan President Hamid Karzai promises to fight corruption in the government.

   2009

President Barack Obama names Richard Holbrooke as a special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Mr. Obama announces a new strategy for the Afghanistan war that would dispatch more military and civilian trainers to the country, in addition to the 17,000 more combat troops he previously ordered. The strategy also includes assistance to Pakistan in its fight against militants.

   2010

President Barack Obama accepts Gen. Stanley McChrystal's resignation as the top commander in Afghanistan, over critical comments he made in a Rolling Stone article, and nominates Gen. David Petraeus, head of U.S. Central Command, as his replacement.

   2011

U.S. forces overtake a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and kill al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. For more coverage of this and other international news, visit our World page.

   intro 1921-1956  1957-1978 1979-1986 1987-1992 1993-2000 2001 2002-present
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
  Main: Afghanistan
REPORTS
  A Slow Economic Recovery
  The Soviet Occupation
  Al-Qaida in Afghanistan
  Profiles
    Hamid Karzai
    The Taliban
RESOURCES
  Political Timeline
  Government Profile
  Archive
INTERACTIVE
  Map: Afghanistan's Ethnic Groups
FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS
  Lesson Plan
  Afghanistan: People, Places
  and Politics
  Student Voices
  The Paradox of Kabul
  My Journey to the United States
  From Fear to Hope for Afghanistan
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